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Thanks for the misinformation, Disney

Dave Farquhar security August 21, 2012android, antivirus, apache, BSD, computer security, iphone, mac os x, os x, sony, spyware

In one of its throwaway kid’s sitcoms, Disney insinuates that open source software contains spyware and using it is a ‘rookie mistake’.

Open source software rarely contains viruses or spyware. Since it’s open for examination, changes to the code that have any funny business in them tend to be rejected. For that matter, code with unintended bad consequences tends to either be rejected, or quickly changed.
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Dave Farquhar

David Farquhar is a computer security professional, entrepreneur, and author. He started his career as a part-time computer technician in 1994, worked his way up to system administrator by 1997, and has specialized in vulnerability management since 2013. He invests in real estate on the side and his hobbies include O gauge trains, baseball cards, and retro computers and video games. A University of Missouri graduate, he holds CISSP and Security+ certifications. He lives in St. Louis with his family.

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I may have found a few-compromises 7-inch tablet

Dave Farquhar Android, Hardware August 16, 2012January 5, 2013acer, android, Ice Cream Sandwich, nexus

So I was tempted when I saw a refurbished Acer Iconia 7-inch tablet for $151. Its specs are outmoded but respectable–dual core 1 GHz, 1 GB RAM, 8 GB of storage, and a microSD slot. And Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich is available for it.

But there’s something better around the corner. I say few-compromises, because I haven’t seen a no-compromises 7-inch tablet yet. The 7-inch sector is all about value.

Dave Farquhar

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The Nexus 7 looks promising, if slightly flawed

Dave Farquhar Hardware July 6, 2012android, kindle, Kindle Fire, nexus

I haven’t mentioned Google’s upcoming Nexus 7 tablet yet. If you haven’t heard about it somehow, it’s a 7-inch, quad-core tablet with 1 GB of RAM, priced at $199, and running Android 4.1. So think of it like a souped-up Kindle Fire. Read more

Dave Farquhar

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This Linux Mint box looks really nice, except for the price

Dave Farquhar Hardware, Linux June 27, 2012June 25, 2012android, apple, dell, hp, Linux Mint, ubuntu

Linux Mint (a close cousin of Ubuntu) now comes bundled on a nice-looking small form factor PC–a small metal box, comparable in size to a home router, ideal for connecting to a television to use as an HTPC and/or as a secondary PC.
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Dave Farquhar

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I hope BYOD 2.0 goes better than BYOD 1.0 did

Dave Farquhar Hardware June 26, 20121990s, android, best buy, dell, IBM, malware, micron, Spare Parts, trenches

BYOD is “bring your own device.” It’s the hot new trend in IT, except it’s nothing new. But it was bound to happen, I guess. Companies are tired of buying computer equipment, so they want employees to provide it. And counterculture, nonconformist workers are (I guess) tired of using boring corporate computer equipment. (And here I am, a strong advocate of buying off-lease corporate computers for home use.)

So, since companies don’t want to buy computers, and employees don’t want to use company computers, what’s the problem?

How’s about I tell you a story? Read more

Dave Farquhar

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Microsoft just priced its Windows 8-based tablets out of the market

Dave Farquhar Hardware June 14, 2012November 19, 2018amiga, android, apple, Apple Ipad, atari, Bill Gates, commodore, commodore 128, compaq, IBM, intel, ipad, radio shack, Steve Ballmer, thinkpad, windows 8, XT

Microsoft just priced its Windows 8-based tablets out of the market.

Extremetech reports that they expect Windows 8-based tablets to sell for $600-$900. I think Microsoft is forgetting its history.
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Dave Farquhar

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I’m not sure Google was the good guy, but I’m glad Oracle lost

Dave Farquhar Copyright June 1, 2012android, IBM, mac os x, oracle, os x, unix, WINE

I’m not sure that either Google or Oracle was the good guy in the Java patent/copyright case. But Google was less bad. And it’s hard for me to see how ruling in favor of Oracle could have done anything good for the industry.
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Dave Farquhar

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The new Nook partnership is a strange alliance

Dave Farquhar Hardware May 2, 2012android, windows 8

Barnes & Noble is creating a subsidiary to handle its Nook business. And Microsoft is sinking $300 million into it, making it a joint venture.

Remember, last year, Microsoft sued B&N over its Android-based devices. And B&N put up more of a fight than anyone expected. Read more

Dave Farquhar

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Why I won’t be using Google Drive

Dave Farquhar Software April 27, 2012android, Fair Use

Google Drive, on its surface, looks useful. They give me a few gigs of storage that I can access from any computer with Internet access. I could use it like a virtual USB drive.

Except I won’t. The terms of service are too problematic for me. Read more

Dave Farquhar

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Why Google wants to know about your wi-fi networks

Dave Farquhar Uncategorized April 2, 2012android, wi-fi

Google has been recording the names and coordinates of wi-fi networks for several years, which has gotten the company some bad publicity. In fact, a longtime reader asked a question about that just a few days ago. Part of the reason for the objections was because few people understood what they were doing with that data.

This past week, we saw one of the fruits of that endeavor.
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Dave Farquhar

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